Philippine government troops continue to clash with militants on the streets of Marawi, which was brought to a standstill after martial law was declared earlier this week in the wake of armed forces, which have pledged allegiance to ISIL, seized parts of the city.

Life has come to a full stop in the city, but the sound of gunfire keeps ringing out loudly. At least five soldiers and 13 militants have died in the ongoing fighting.

As CGTN’s Barnaby Lo reports, since Tuesday, the military has been engaging what are believed to be the combined forces of the Abu Sayyaf and Maute groups, Filipino Muslim extremists who have pledged allegiance to ISIL. The battle has gone from inside the city to the fringes, and is now back inside. 

Soldiers have retaken some buildings the militants had occupied and destroyed, and secured civilians trapped or taken hostage in hospitals and elsewhere.

To prevent the conflict from spilling over, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law over the entire Southern region on Tuesday. However, upon his return from Russia on Wednesday, he warned that the entire nation could be placed under martial rule. 

Lo said that while there are concerns martial law could be abused by authorities, for now protection is what the war-weary people of the Southern Philippines want and need.